UPDATE: Reser’s Says Recall Prompted By Routine Food Check

Reser’s Fine Foods, Inc., says a recall of packaged salads produced at its plant in Topeka, Kan., was prompted by a routine check of products sold in Canada.

Spokeswoman Juli Ann Putnam said Tuesday that the Canadian Food Inspection Agency found Listeria monocytogenes in some ready-to-eat macaroni and cheese and Reser’s did a voluntary recall of affected products.

Putnam says a follow-up inspection of the plant by the Food and Drug Administration and the state of Kansas determined there was a potential for cross contamination with other products, so the recall was expanded.

In all, some 450 products sold under the name of Beaverton-based Reser’s and others were recalled.

Listeria can produce fever, headache, diarrhea and abdominal pain, and can be fatal for people with weak immune systems.

—————————————————-

UPDATE: Reser’s Fine Foods, Inc., has voluntarily expanded a recall of packaged salads from its factory in Topeka, Kan.

The company based in Beaverton, Ore., said it took the step Saturday because the products distributed nationwide and in Canada may be contaminated with Listeria, which can cause serious illness. Symptoms include fever, headache, abdominal pain and diarrhea.

The company said in a statement on its website that there have been no confirmed illnesses linked to the products.

The products include potato, pasta, tuna and egg salads sold under the Reser’s name, as well as a variety of others.

Reser’s said the packages are marked with a plant identifier code of 20 next to the best-by-date. About 450 products are listed on the Resers.com website.

—————————————————-

Oregon-based Reser’s Fine Foods is recalling pre-packaged products that may be contaminated with Listeria.

The items were made at a Topeka, Kan., plant. They vary widely and include such items as cole slaw, pimento spread and potato salad. The U.S. Department of Agriculture says the items also include 22,800 pounds of products containing chicken, ham and beef.

The company and federal officials announced Tuesday that the refrigerated ready-to-eat products may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The products were distributed across the U.S. and Canada.

There have been no reports of illness.

The company and federal officials listed various “sell by” dates for the recalled products.

Listeria monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, an uncommon and potentially fatal disease. Symptoms can include high fever and severe headache.